Set in a near-future world where the British Empire was preserved, not by the cost of blood and theft but by effort of repatriation and promises kept, That Inevitable Victorian Thing is a novel of love, duty, and the small moments that can change people and the world.

Victoria-Margaret is the crown princess of the empire, a direct descendant of Victoria I, the queen who changed the course of history two centuries earlier. The imperial practice of genetically arranged matchmaking will soon guide Margaret into a politically advantageous marriage like her mother before her, but before she does her duty, she’ll have one summer incognito in a far corner of empire. In Toronto, she meets Helena Marcus, daughter of one of the empire’s greatest placement geneticists, and August Callaghan, the heir apparent to a powerful shipping firm currently besieged by American pirates. In a summer of high-society debutante balls, politically charged tea parties, and romantic country dances, Margaret, Helena, and August discover they share an unusual bond and maybe a one in a million chance to have what they want and to change the world in the process —just like the first Queen Victoria.

I received this book for free from Penguin for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

First sentence: “Helena Marcus had not given much thought to her marriage.”

History has been rewritten. The British Empire is as strong as ever. This Inevitable Victorian Thing explores a world where everybody in the British Royal family—after Queen Victoria that is—married outside the European Royal family, creating diverse, multi-racial people that you see in the characters, and where old traditions like debutante balls and arranged marriages meet the new like genetic technology.

Book covers are the first thing that attracts readers to a book. A good cover can draw someone is, just as a bad cover can easily draw someone away. It can essentially make or break a book. Holy, Mother Cover! is where I showcase the book covers that stand out (or make me cringe), and discuss cover changes.

How gorgeous is this cover of A Thousand Nights? I love the girl being swept up into the night sky by the beautiful typography of the title. It makes me think that she’s being beamed up. Speaking of the beautiful typography, just take a look at it. Heart eyes. I love it so much. It’s so epic, and I love that it glints, as if light is being shined on it. You see the green squiggles surrounding the title typography? Those are more lettering; I hadn’t realized that until I saw a close-up.

I don’t have anything bad to say about this cover.

From this cover, I know what to expect of this book.

Would I buy this book based on the cover? YES.

What do I think about the cover design? So pretty.

I’m very in love with the colors used in this UK cover. The purple, sea-green, the pink, and the gold work so well with each other. The sea-green feather looping around the ‘o’ in the title is a wonderful detail. I love the silhouette inside the pink of the feather because it makes it more than a feather; it shows that this book has romance in it. If the cover uses foiling for the gold, it would look really awesome.

Although the colors are great, I’m a bit confused at what the feather is supposed to represent. I don’t get how it relates to the plot. Maybe once I read the book I will understand?

Would I buy this book based on the cover? Eh.

Final Verdict: Definitely the US! There’s so much detail to it that makes the cover so gorgeous.

Which cover design do you prefer? Would you buy the US or UK cover?

about me

I'm Cee, queen of all things delightful!
Well, in my head.

The Novel Hermit is written by a daydreamer who loves books and thinks they are absolutely delightful. You will find YA, reviews, comics, discussion, letters, fonts + book cover love, and lots of fangirling squealing. What more can you ask for?

Disclaimer

All of the books I review either have been purchased by me, borrowed from the library, and sent to me by the publisher (the latter of which I will note). All the words and opinions in this blog are my own. I am not paid to write reviews. Synopsis are taken from either the back of the book or from Goodreads.com. Any use and/or duplication of my material without permission from me (the author and owner of The Novel Hermit blog) is strictly prohibited.